Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-08-28
Thine Is love, an endless feast;
Beauty-sweeter far than wine;
Joy, from lower cares released

"
allegorical, and, as If ] expressed my
thought, the scene changed, and l was In
real life.
/ Chambers in London, such as ] had read
of overlooking st. James park. i sat In
them in the midst of books and pictures.
/ had no business to call me away from my
lindolent ease; had no anxiety about the
future. / got MP and strolled about the
streets, looking at the shops. If i fancied
n thing bought it went to picture gal
leries and saw the latest works OF art; i
went to the theatre and saw the perform
anee from comfortable box; went riding
in the park.
| Then my fancy returned to my first love,
and saw myself walking in country
lane with Juliet. She was sweeter TO look
upon than ever, and more delightful in her
frank and innocent love for me. We ram
bled along under the hedges while
gathered flowers with her, and talked OF
the happy, happy days when we should be
one, soon now to arrive, and Of the sweet,
loving life which should be ours far away
from the troubles of the world.
Dreams, idle dreams; but sweet to me,
after the agony of the last, as draught OF
water to parched traveller on Sahara
The pictures changed as fast as my fancy
wandered from one thing te another. In
all was the same-free from the down
ward and earthly pressure of want and
hunger, relieved from anxiety, with plenty
of money, and full of all sweet and inno-
cent fancies.
Lies again. But by what power could
this necromancer so cheat and gull my
brain?
"Very different scenes these, nv dear
young friend, 4" he said, in winning voice,
''are they not? Now" he went on, and
his voice was quite close TO me, You have
had your five minutes"
The cloud passed from my eyes. l was
sitting again in the octagonal room, the
old man before me, watch in hand, as If
he was counting the seconds.
Give minutes and quarter" he
growled. Now choose"
81 have chosen" / replied. II accept
your offer"
The influence of the things l had seen
was too strong upon me. / could neither
reason nor reflect
~ accept your offer"
"Why, that's brave" he said, with a
gigantic sigh of relief. That's what l
expected of you. Observation-Disclosures
de-neige"
He clapped his hands.
Instantly the horrible old negro appear
ed behind his masters chair, as if he had
sprung from the ground. I believe he
had. He looked moro like devil than
ever, grinning from ear to ear, and his
two eyes glowing in the candlelight like
two great Goals. The light, fell too, upon
the seams and wrinkles of his face, bring
ing them out like the hills and valleys in
a raised map. Strange rs it all was TO me,
this ancient seryitor produced the strangest
effect upon me ofanything.
'sBoule-de- neige is witness for US, said
the old gentleman. "Boule-de-neige, this
Young gentleman, Mr.. Luke Lucraft, is
about to sign little deed, to which, as q
matter of form, we require your signature
too as witness"
"Cluckr' said the negro. "Dis young
gegleman berry lucky. What time massa
take him dinner"
when do you think you shall be fairly
hungry again?" he asked me. Now, no
boasting-no false pretense and pride
because it will be the worse for you.
answer truthfully. 1t is now 6. !"
81 should say that at 9 should be able
to take some supper, and at 10 l shall
certainly be hungry again. AS an ordi-
nary rule | should be ready great deal
earlier, but have taken such an immense
dinner"
Good" He turned to Bople-de-neige,
"You see the young man Is modest and
promises fairly. l shall have supper-a
plentiful supper-at 10 punctually. Mr..
Lucraft will now sign"
advanced to the table and took up the
pen, but there was no ink.
"Cluckp said the internal negro, with
another grin-'cluck! Massa wait lilly
bit"
He took my left hand in his soft and cold
paw. ! felt sharp prick at my wrist.
"You will dip the pen, said the old
gentleman, lin the blood. 1t is mere
FORM"
''Cluck!" said Boule-de-neige.
"A mere form, because we have no ink
handy"
| "Cluck-cluckn'
| / signed my name as desired, and, fol-
lowing the directions Of the gentleman,
placed my finger on the red wafer at the
margin, saying, 81 declare this my act and
deed"
Then gave the pen to Boule-de-neige.
He signed after me, in a firm, flowing
hand, EsBoule- de- neige." As looked, the
letters seemed somehow to shape them
selves into ''Beelzebub.s' Hooked at him
with kind of terror. The creature grin
ned in my face as if he OWNED my thoughts,
and gave utterance to one Of his hideous
''clucks."
Then began to feel the same faintness
which had at first experienced. 1t mount
ed upward from my feet slowly, so that
heard the old gentleman's voice, though
saw nothing. 1t grew gradually fainter.
Supper at 10, Boule-de-neige, he was
saying; ~ feel getting hungry already.
What shall do with myself till 10 o'clock9
/ am certainly getting hungry. think
can have it served at $50. Oh, blessed
day! Oh, thankful, blessed day! Boule-
de-neige, it must he supper for three-for
four-for five. shall have champagne
the Perrier Jouet-the Curaco punch after
ward. Curacao punch-I haven't tasted
il for three months and more. Oh, what
/ a biesssd-blessed-
heard ne more because my senses failed
me altogether, and his voice died away in
my ears.
! When | came 10 myself / was leaning
against the post in Bucklersbury, where |
had met the old man.
A Whit of stale cooked meat from the
eookshop, which caught me as l opened
my eyes. produced singular feeling OF
disgust. ''Psh,' muttefed, '.roast NUT
toni and moved from the spot My hun
ger was gone, that was quite certain.
felt quietness about those regions, wher-
ever they may be, which belong to appe-
tite. was almost dreamy in the repose
which followed morning so stormy. /
walked quietly away homeward in kind
of daze, trying to make out something OF
what had happened. The first thing found
could not remember was the name of the
old gentleman. When that cams back
to me and under what circumstances
will tell you as We get along Bit by bit
/ n h. ,h1ls 40, 81 h.